I loved the first Bioshock and right now, i'm actually pretty warm on the Big Sister. It might be contrived, but its interesting. I'm hopeful, because we can't stop it now, its like Juggernaut, he just keeps coming.

Wat!

I wanted to be featured in his list of good comments for Bioshock2! :(

F.E.A.R + F.E.A.R 2
==
Bioshock + Bioshock 2
== 0

Can't really say anything that hasn't been said before.
I think I'll just sit back and see how the game turns out.
I'm not being optimistic though.

Huh. You noted me in this article.

You're a good sport David. And I honestly forgot to add that it was a great article in the first place.

My apoligies, and well done.

The first BioShock was incredible. In fact, I can't wait for this sequel. Yet, I see a lot of you think that being a Big Daddy is a bad because you get a huge drill and a rivet gun. Well here's what I think should happen to make the game more fun and keep you scared of the things around the corner. You go through the first level or so with your weapons at full damage and capacity until the first encounter with the Big Sister. Towards the end of the fight, she damages your drill and gun to almost the point of uselessness. Your drill is now like the wrench in the first game, and your gun is now the pistol. Throughout the game you find important parts to rebuilt your tools, or somehow incorporate new plasmids to power them up.

Plus, if they make another BioShock after this one, then they should make a prequel, or perhaps Rapture wasn't the only "utopian" city...

Personally I hope they just do the obvious, expand on rapture, fill out the blanks, give us a story that at least approaches the level of Bioshock's, give us a more satisfying ending and then leave it... rapture isnt big enough for a Bioshock 3... although from what ive read they in no way shape or form want to leave what will become a series after 2 comes out =/

Still, the best thing about Bioshock was its story and characters, if they can replicate that value, with out copying the origional they're on to a winner even if it doesnt quite reach the hights of the first in my opinion. Bioshock was awesome so a big worse than Bioshock is still bloody brilliant.

bit worse excuse me*

"If something is perfect, don't ruin it!" or in other words- If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Okay, I see it like this. Are they making the sequel for the right reasons? I know that there is a business behind these games, and sometimes what determines if there will be a sequel is how well the first game sells. So all the passion, creativity, and energy goes into the first game, and all, or most, of the story is, essentially, "Used up". So, if the creator's of Bioshock did not PLAN on making a sequel, but only see it now as a good opportunity to make some easy money-than the game will (most likely) suck. Horribly. BUT, if they planned on a sequel, and designed the first game to flow into, or mesh, with a continuing storyline, and they have fresh ideas and new suprises, and still have passion, and vigor, and love for the game's world and characters-than I think it will do well. Possibly very well.

I remember being hesitant when they announced Gears of War 2. I don't remember exactly why. Maybe it was because I did see the first game as essentially perfect. I didn't want my memories to be ruined by a crappy sequel. But when it finally came out and I finally did get to play it, I was more then impressed. The storyline was phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. Emotional, gripping, deep. And the gameplay improved greatly as well. All of the original elements remained unchanged, but now we could ride things we could before, explore places we'd never thought we'd have to explore..not to mention the new guns and other added tactics. It more than topped the first game.

If there has to be a sequel to Bioshock, I hope they take a few lessons on how to make a sequel from the guys at Epic.

I just started playing Bioshock, so far its as good as everyone has told me. I think Bioshock 2 will either be amazing or will epically fail and be hated by the hardcore fans

uh,as a big daddy,you dont have as much to fear,the big sister and plasmid splicers are things to fear,espsally the electric ones,ill like makeing the splicers run in fear from the drill,but the next game to be released (on a diffrent note and a company) is eaither a remake of the first 2 fallouts or a 4th fallout

I just recently picked up a copy of bioshock. I had to see what the hubub was about. The story had been ruined for me multiple times (thanks GamesRadar!). I toss it in the 360 set it on 'easy' and fly through in about 6 hours. Those 6 hours, even knowing the outcome of the story, were pure genius. The story was beyond incredible and was the only reason I kept playing. As I watched the truth unfold through Jack's eyes, my mouth was open in amazement. This game, this world, this masterpiece of story telling cannot be recreated with the same awe inspiring vision. If Bioshock 2 can pull a story that spectacular out of its ass, then I'll eat my copy of Bioshock

In my oppinion BioShock was not a complete work. It was a masterpiece, yes, but some things that aren't quite finished can be masterpieces.

BioShock had great depth and a brilliant story, it was meticulously crafted and reached a level of near perfection, and ranks among my favorite games of all time. However, the reason I say it was not completed is because of the ending, Ken Levine himself said that he did not want to do two separate endings, but they did and both were terrible. The final boss battle was an uncreative cop-out, and the end cut scenes were overly simplistic and wrapped things up too quickly. BioShock had a very bitter ending that can be mostly covered up by the outstanding quality of the rest of the game, however I know that I don't want the ending of BioShock to be my last taste of that world.

Now I will admit that I have more than a few doubts about BioShock 2, however, the people who are heading it up may not be Ken Levine but have enough passion for the game that I am convinced they will do a fantastic job. You compared the changing of the leadership to the old Batman movies, however that situation was different. Tim Burton had a strong vision for those movies, however the executives at WB replaced his vision with a (in theory) more family friendly model. I would argue that BioShock 2 has the potential to be more like James Cameron taking on Aliens after Ridley Scott or Irvin Kershner directing The Empire Strikes Back (lets not forget that the lead designer for BioShock 2 was responsible for Fort Frolic in the original).

As for the Big Daddy aspect of the game, at this point I'll agree with you, however 2K is being purposely tight-lipped but they have mentioned more challenges other than Splicers and the Big Sister. Also take into consideration that by the time you reached Fort Frolic or Hephaestus in the first game Jack was almost an unstoppable force. Splicers fell down in waves much as they do in the BioShock 2 gameplay demo and Big Daddy's were easy enough to off if you had a decent technique. I imagine BioShock 2 will similar to starting in that position but soon finding that there's more to fear in Rapture than the occasional appearance of a spidery girl with a giant needle.

The multi-player element is the most worrysome to me. From what I've read the idea of it sounds really cool, however I worry that doing that on top of the single player game will stretch both elements thin. I want to see a great multi-player element however if creating takes away from making a quality single player experience I hope to God that they remove it or at least throw in a Halo rip-off if they must to please the execs (I'm ok with ignoring multi-player).

I'm torn with BioShock 2, part of me has faith that these guys are good enough to make a Toy Story 2, but at the same time I'm really worried that they've peaked themselves and there's no way to go but down. However you can be sure that come fall I'll be disconnected with real-life until I've completed this game.

By the way, great article. I (and I'm sure you do as well) hope 2K surprises us all (in the best possible way).

let us rant on forever! xD

i was actualy kinda sad that the first bioshock dident have mulit, not co-op, that would blow, but mulit... goddamnit why dose the one game whose machinics i love to death have to be so perfect in a "isolated" setting...

Haven't looked at this site in a while, so to my surpise I find a new article about an upcoming game that I am somewhat looking forward to. Heres my thoughts:

Bioshock, for me, was and is the greatest next-gen game, and of the greatest games I have evr played. I can't speak much, considering I've had a PS3 5 months now and have a grand total of seven games. Call me a casual gamer if you will, but I don't have the money to buy games whenever I want. Can't wait for Bioshock 2, although, as has been repeated to death, the atmosphere and mood of the first game was too great to be surpassed or even equald by Bioshock 2. Great article, first one i've read in a while.

It wouldnt make sense to have multiplayer in rapture. The way I would do it is to have differnt splicers all with different abilities and the players can battle it out as splicers. But im sure it wont be nearly as awesome as I could make it to be and it will feel tacked on and completly detract from the game overall.

I think they should have made a prequel. It would provide more backstory, remind players how awesome Bioshock's world and characters were, and ANDREW MOTHERGRABBIN' RYAN would still be alive!(He was my favorite Bioshock character)

Also @ NotBraze
Holy freak, ya writin' a novel or what?

I agree with what your saying... i loved the original Bioshock, it is one of my favorite games of all time but i was super excited for a sequel and when i first heard of it i was really happy and excited but now that i think of it... the sequel could have been so much better! now I'm just disappointed. Don't get me wrong I'm still going to play it and you never know it might even blow us out of the water!